Supervisor, Manufacturing 1st shift

Saab AB; West Lafayette (IN); On-site; USD 81,000 - 101,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, and dental insurance

Generous paid time off and holidays

401(k) plan with employer match

Tuition assistance

Wellness resources

Employee stock purchase opportunities

Disability coverage

Job summary

Saab AB in West Lafayette, Indiana, is hiring a Production Supervisor to lead a skilled team building the U.S. Air Force’s T-7A Red Hawk aft fuselage. You’ll guide daily operations, drive performance, and shape a high‑performing manufacturing operation from the ground up. A hands‑on, growth‑oriented leader who values people and processes will thrive here.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of proven supervisory/people leadership experience within aerospace.
• Experience in an AS9100 or ISO environment.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Experience using MES and ERP systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily production operations for advanced aero-structure manufacturing.
• Build and develop your team through coaching and training.
• Create a culture of accountability, urgency and teamwork.
• Champion safety and quality and ensure compliance with processes.
• Monitor production performance and deploy recovery plans to maintain master schedule.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Problem solving

Education

AS/BS in Operations Management or related

Tools

Microsoft Office

MES systems

ERP systems

Job description

Saab is growing its state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing facility in West Lafayette, Indiana, and we’re looking for a Production Supervisor to help bring the next generation of military aviation to life.

In this role, you’ll lead a talented production team responsible for building the aft fuselage of the U.S. Air Force’s T-7A Red Hawk. The T-7A Red Hawk represents the future of U.S. Air Force pilot training—and you’ll play a direct role in making that future possible. This is more than supervising on the production floor—you’ll have the opportunity to shape how work gets done, develop people, improve processes, and help establish a high-performance manufacturing operation from the ground up.

If you’re a hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment, takes pride in developing people, and is energized by solving problems and delivering results, we want to hear from you.

What You’ll Do

As a Production Supervisor, you’ll work closely with the Production Manager, fellow supervisors, engineers, and support teams to ensure our operation delivers safely, efficiently, and with the quality our customers expect.

You will:

• Lead daily production operations for advanced aero-structure manufacturing, setting clear expectations and driving the team toward daily production goals (Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and Morale).
• Build and develop your team through coaching, mentoring, training, and meaningful performance feedback.
• Create a culture of accountability, urgency and teamwork, empowering employees to take ownership of production KPIs, quality, and business goals.
• Champion safety and quality, ensuring compliance with established processes, work rules, and FOD-prevention and tool control practices.
• Monitor production performance, communicate progress and deploy recovery / contingency plans to maintain master schedule adherence.
• Drive continuous improvement, identifying opportunities to eliminate waste, improve processes, and increase efficiency.
• Collaborate across the organization with management, production teams, engineering, quality, and other support functions to solve problems and maintain product flow throughout the factory keep production moving.
• Support recruiting, selection, onboarding, and training of new team members.
• Maintain a clean, organized, high-performing work environment through Saab’s 6S program.
• Manage production team time and attendance, including reviewing and approving work hours.
• Consistently demonstrate Saab’s core values of Trust, Drive, Expertise, and Support.

Compensation Range: $80,900 - $101,000

*Relocation Package is available for this role

The compensation range provided is a general guideline. When extending an offer, Saab, Inc. considers factors including (but not limited to) the role and associated responsibilities, location, and market and business considerations, as well as the candidate's work experience, key skills, and education/training.

Skills and Experience:

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for a leader who brings energy to the production floor and understands that great manufacturing starts with great teams. If you’re ready to bring your leadership to a growing aerospace manufacturing organization and want to see the impact of your work every day, we’d like to meet you.

Required Qualifications:

• 3-5 years of proven supervisory/people leadership experience within the aerospace industry
• Experience in an AS9100 or ISO environment
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook)
• Experience using MES and ERP systems
• Proven ability to work effectively across departments, and align on business objectives and key results
• Ability to lead by example, to build positive and productive work relationships
• Experience driving performance and behavioral accountability
• Availability to work a flexible/extended schedule as needed to meet customer timelines
• Excellent communication and team collaboration skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• AS or BS degree in Operations Management, Advanced Manufacturing, Aeronautics, or a related field
• Experience working in a union environment
• Familiar with new product introduction

Must be a U.S. citizen, Permanent Resident (green card holder), or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

Drug-Free Workplaces:

Saab is a federal government contractor and adheres to policies and programs necessary for sustaining drug-free workplaces. As a condition of employment, candidates will be required to pass a pre-employment drug screen.

Saab provides an excellent working environment offering professional growth opportunities, competitive wages, work-life balance, a business casual atmosphere and comprehensive benefits.

Highlights include:

Medical, vision, and dental insurance for employees and dependents

Generous paid time off, including 8 designated holidays

401(k) with employer contributions

Tuition assistance and student loan assistance

Wellness and employee assistance resources

Employee stock purchase opportunities

Short-term and long-term disability coverage

About Us:

Saab is a leading defense and security company with an enduring purpose, to help nations keep their people and society safe. Empowered by its 28,000 talented people, Saab constantly pushes the boundaries of technology to create a safer and more sustainable world. In the U.S., Saab delivers advanced technology and systems, supporting the U.S. Armed Forces and the Federal Aviation Administration, as well as international and commercial partners. Headquartered in Syracuse, New York, the company has business units and local employees in ten U.S. locations.

Saab is a company where we see diversity as an asset and offer unlimited opportunities for advancing in your career. We are also a company that respects each person’s needs and encourage employees to lead a balanced, rewarding life beyond work. Saab values diversity and is an Aff…

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